How to Protect Your Child’s Intrinsic Motivation with Dr. Gina Riley

What helps kids stay curious, motivated, and connected to who they really are? In this episode, I’m talking with educational psychologist, professor, researcher, and longtime unschooling parent **Dr. Gina Riley** about intrinsic motivation and Self-Determination Theory — a framework that has shaped both her academic work and the way she raised her own son. We talk about: - The three things that support intrinsic motivation: **competence, autonomy, and relatedness** - Why freedom and choice matter so much in learning - What it looks like to let children develop interests that *we* might not have chosen for them - How unschooling supported Gina’s son in becoming his own person - Why knowing your values can make parenting decisions feel much clearer - The importance of protecting curiosity, joy, and the precious time we have with our kids ### Go Deeper Explore Self-Determination Theory: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/ Learn more about Dr. Gina Riley: https://ginarileyphd.com/ ✨ **Grab the free Self-Schooled Parent Toolkit:** https://www.self-schooled.com